Gourmet frankfurter chain evolves brand with new menu offerings

By: Franktitude | 11 Shares 193 Reads

December 13, 2007 // Franchising.com // Miami, Fla. – A Miami-based gourmet frankfurter chain that built its success on healthful frankfurters and a number of imaginative toppings is broadening choices for customers by unveiling a new menu that will include create-your-own salads, a line of sandwiches, wraps and paninis and an array of new toppings.

The menu makeover marks the evolution of Franktitude, a five-unit chain founded in 2006 by Ari Wurmann, a Chilean native who wanted to teach consumers that frankfurters could be a complete, flavorful and nutritious meal.
Now that customers have embraced the frank and the imaginative ingredients that Wurmann serves with it, he is expanding beyond their core product to expand Franktitude's audiences.

While franks will always be a prominent menu item for the fast-casual restaurant concept, Franktitude is adding products that can be enhanced by an assortment of toppings they have always carried and a host of new accoutrements they've recently introduced.

"Our guests so enjoy customizing their franks that we thought it would be fun to allow them to do the same with other menu items," said Ari Wurmann, Franktitude founder and CEO.

Two new frank-inspired menu items include the Knock Knock Frank, knockwurst topped with spicy mustard, sautéed green peppers and onions, tomato slices, cheese and a pickle spear; and the Cheeseburger Frank, a frank-shaped burger with pockets of cheese, topped with onions, tomato slices, mustard, ketchup and a pickle spear. Both are less than $4.

A new collection of ciabatta sandwiches include the Frank on Ciabatta, two frankfurters, BBQ sauce, red onions, fried onions and Swiss cheese; Cajun Chicken on Ciabatta, grilled chicken strips, lettuce, tomato slices, red onions, Swiss Cheese and Cajun mayonnaise; Corned Beef on Ciabatta, corned beef, Swiss cheese, sautéed peppers and onions, tomato slices and 1000 Island dressing; Grilled Chicken on Ciabatta, grilled chicken strips, lettuce, sun-dried tomato pesto, Swiss cheese and roasted red peppers; Tuna Salad on Ciabatta, fresh tuna salad, lettuce, tomato slices, hard-boiled egg slices, mayonnaise and honey Dijon dressing; Turkey on Ciabatta, smoked turkey, avocado spread, tomato slices, Swiss cheese and mayonnaise. All sandwiches are priced at $6.19.

An assortment of paninis and wraps appear on the new menu such as the Hawaiian Panini, grilled chicken strips, pineapple, bacon and Swiss cheese; Italian Panini, sun-dried tomato pesto, onions, mushrooms, cheese and olives; Ruben Panini, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, red onions and 1000 Island dressing; Tuna Melt Panini, fresh tuna salad, tomato slices, red onions, Swiss Cheese and honey Dijon dressing; and Turkey Panini, smoked turkey, gorgonzola, tomato slices, bacon and corn. Franks will also be served in paninis and wraps. Paninis and wraps cost $5.59

Priced at $4.99, the create-your-own-salads are made with a bed of greens and a choice of unlimited toppings and dressings and served in a crispy tortilla bow. For an additional $2, customers can add chicken, tuna, turkey or a frankfurter.
Franktitude has doubled the toppings they offer adding ingredients such as sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and mango poppy balsamic vinaigrette to signature toppings including wasabi mayonnaise, chili and avocado. The toppings and dressings can be heaped on franks or salads.

The new menu items debuted at all five units in December.

About Franktitude

Founded in Miami in 2006, Franktitude is a distinctive fast-casual eatery that serves high-quality beef, salmon, turkey and veggie frankfurters along with a variety of sandwiches and salads that can be customized with any number of 50 fresh toppings. All of Franktitude's franks are made entirely of protein – no fillers. All Franktitude restaurants offer free Wi-Fi service, flat screen televisions and modern interior furnishings. The five-unit chain plans to open 100 stores in the next five years. For more information, visit www.franktitude.com.